Welcome to Lesson 1 of Leadership for a digital world in the public service! In this email boot camp, you will be introduced to the 7 mindsets of modern leadership for public service. You’ll discover what they are, how far you are in your journey through the mindsets, and some helpful, practical tips for discovering and developing your own digital age leadership abilities.

Digital Transformation is not just about technology, it’s about fostering human systems internally and externally that can thrive, be healthy and safe and evolve at pace with the world around us.

In lesson 1, you’ll learn about the first two mindsets: beginner and adaptive.

1. Watch an introduction to the first two mindsets

In this video, you’ll hear from Mel Ross as she introduces the 7 Mindsets of Modern Leadership and explains the first two mindsets: Digital and Beginner. (15 min)

2. Reflect on your own experience

Based on the brief descriptions above, where would you place your own maturity currently for each mindset?

Digital Native:

  • Level 1: I'm aware of the digital native mindset.
  • Level 2: I understand the digital native mindset.
  • Level 3: I can evidence a digital native mindset.
  • Level 4: I embody the digital native mindset.

Beginners:

  • Level 1: I'm aware of the beginner's mindset.
  • Level 2: I understand the beginner's mindset.
  • Level 3: I can evidence a beginner's mindset.
  • Level 4: I embody the beginner's mindset.

How do these results make you feel? Do you notice perhaps you may feel mature in one particular mindset, but are unable to evidence or practice this in your current environment or system? This can often be the case and is an example of how important it is for us to build our brand credibility and reputation through identity and mindset work - so we are able to be seen and heard better.

3. Use the suggestions and articles below to help you develop and nurture your Digital Native and Beginner's Mindset

Digital Native Levels 1 & 2:

Learn: Read GovTech and digital government skills — the essentials (7 min)

Think: Where can you apply habits within your daily practice that increase your productivity through using a technology you are familiar with in a different way?

Do: Identify a new tool within technology you're already familiar with, and experiment with it this week. (For example, try exploring 'Rules' in Office 365).

Digital Native Levels 3 & 4:

Learn: Read Digital leadership for the modern public service: how to close the skills gap (7 min)

Think: When you encounter new technology, how do you behave differently to others?

Do: Think of a specific area in which you feel you are mature in this Mindset, and try to externalise it in a way that others can see you ‘being’ this more explicitly.

Beginner's Mindset Levels 1 & 2:

Learn: Read 6 ways to make better strategic decisions (6 min)

Think: Before making decisions or taking action, try and stop for a moment and notice the process you go through to make that decision or take that action. Are you in automatic pilot? Are you following ‘the process’ or consciously thinking about all possible outcomes?

Do: Over the next few days see if you can start to integrate the simple question of ‘What if…?” before making a decision or taking action. This will raise your awareness and consciousness, open up your potential for considering multiple options, and help you identify how this might bring about more effective outcomes and solutions.

Beginner's Mindset Level 3 & 4:

Learn: Read How to be adaptive — lessons from 3 years at DFID (8 min)

Think: If you are already naturally someone who is curious and thinks experimentally and even acts experimentally, how can you become more purposeful in your use of this mindset and behaviour, so that others can start to see where it is of benefit more clearly?

Do: This week, ensure you are being open and externalising your thoughts and behaviours as much as possible.

Picture credit: Unsplash

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